Airbus hits back against Boeing with firm orders for A350

Airbus A350-1000

Airbus on Tuesday said that Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific had made a firm order for 10 of its long-haul A350 planes worth $3.2 billion (2.6 billion euros).

Cathay also agreed to convert 16 of its existing orders for the A350-900 to the larger A350-1000, earning Airbus another $1.0 billion before the possibility of discounts which are often the case with large purchases.

The deal was a major boost for Airbus, a day after it revealed only a tame order for four of its future single-aisle neo passenger planes -- a rival to Boeing's MAX series -- to Arkia Israel Airlines for a combined $453 million.

Also on Monday, Airbus chief executive Fabrice Bregier conceded that there could be new delays to the delivery of its A350 plane which is due to enter service in mid-2014.

Read more: Airbus hits back against Boeing with firm orders for A350 - The Economic Times